Why are racehorse ankles taped? Why do some wear blinders and some do not?

Question

Why are racehorse ankles taped? Why do some wear blinders and some do not?

Answer 1

They where blinders because dirt flies up and hits them.

Answer 2

some horses have sore ankles, so the trainer will put taped to protect the horse, but sometimes a trainer will wrap up a horse and then drop it in class...say from 32,000 to 20,000 in a claiming

race, other trainers will see this and not claim the horse thinking that it is hurt, so the horse wins by 6 easy lenghts and the trainer gets to race him 1 more time, and the horse will be taken by another barn.

in Thoroughbred and quarter horse racing they were blinkers, too keep a horse focus on the race and not looking around at the stands or other horses that are coming to make a race out of it. and if a horse needs more speed the blinkers will make him leave the gate more alertly....in harness racing most of them were blinders or partial blinders and it almost standard equipment in that sport...

Answer 3

On race day, ankles are taped for support. Like a human athlete will tape their feet and ankles. In their stalls, bandages are worn for a number of different reasons - support, covering medications, holding ice, general protection, etc. Blinkers are worn to keep the horse focused. Some horses will have a tendency to look around alot while running. Blinkers will only allow the horse to look straight forward.

Answer 4

Some horses wear bandages around their ankles because their trainers don't want them to get hurt and get kicked by their own hooves!! Some horses wear blinkers over their eyes because they get distracted with the outside of them instead of straight forward!

Answer 5

The ankles are taped for protection from the track conditions; tracks are made of different types of soil/turf.  Blinkers are for focus.  Some horses are more easily distracted than others.  The blinkers are to assist in keeping them focused.

Answer 6

Race horses have their ankles taped for protection... The tape protects them from injuring themselves by not letting them kick themselves while they are running which could cause them injury... They wear "blinkers' not blinders to usually give a horse more speed..There are different types of blinkers and trainers use them to change the running style of a horse in hopes of making them run better in a race...